More strange Barbie stuff. Included in footwear designer Jeffrey Campbell's summer 2013 collection are shoes that have clear, lucite heels filled with the heads of Barbie dolls. There's also a version filled with Ken heads. Of course, these shoes are now all the rage in Japan. [via RocketNews24]

So the latest strange Barbie in the news doesn't even seem all that strange, by comparison. It's "Normal Barbie." Created by artist Nickolay Lamm, this doll (which he's calling Lammily), is designed with measurements similar to those of an average 19-year old woman. Also, it comes with stickers allowing you to customize it with freckles, stretch marks, acne, moles, cellulite, and blushing cheeks.

Sold by The Ideal Toy Corp: "Inflatable Vinylite headpieces for children, built in the shape of lions, elephants, horses, and roosters. A few puffs of air inflate each 'lid,' and a cord under the chin secures it."

Is it just me, or was there more creativity in the old days, when you could use "any fruit or vegetable" with Mr. Potato Head, and arrange the features anyplace on the head, instead of in the pre-drilled slots?

I was also curious if "play doctor" sets were still made, and they certainly are, as you can see in the link below. Thank goodness children are still abetted in their, ahem, innocent early vocational explorations!

Toy land-mines have definitely gone out of fashion. Hakes Collectibles explains that the toy was "designed with a trip wire which you were to attach to tree or other stationary object and when wire was bumped, grenade would shoot in the air and cap would fire on base." Also, the toy was "similar to actual weapons used in the Vietnam war."

Created by Argentinian artists Pool Paolini and Marianela Perelli as part of a "Barbie, The Plastic Religion" exhibit. Their idea was that, "If there’s a Barbie doctor, a teacher and a police officer, why shouldn’t there be a Virgin of Luján Barbie?” So they've created 33 different Barbie and Ken dolls portraying various religious figures from Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism and Islam. Obviously controversy has ensued. More info: patheos.com, metro.co.uk